{Hey there! My silly self forgot they were on the Moon and had their helmets off there for a minute... but I'll try to remember from here on in!}
Chapter Eight
Wren had lost count of how many days they'd been on the Moon. Day and night were thrown off and Rorick's well intentioned time schedule had gone out the window the very first night. That day had been eventful enough, but soon after the first guard shift was posted and the others had fallen asleep, all hell broke loose.
She remembered being woken to the sounds of yelling and sniper fire. Sisre and Beorn were posted in one of the large openings, firing on a mass of Hive that flowed from the canyon toward the base in a thick wall, like a wave threatening to swallow them whole. Wren jumped to her feet, scrambling with the Better Devils. It clanked on the floor, sliding away from her as Franz kicked it on his way toward the ramp.
"Useless," Flak exclaimed, shoving the gun back in her hand.
Franz opened fire on the Thrall that swarmed up the ramp. They screeched and screamed, climbing over one another as those in the front were gunned down. The bodies were lost in the mass and the Thrall spilled over the open sides of the ramp, falling into tangled masses below and yet they kept coming.
"Cursed Thrall incoming!" Franz yelled from the door.
"What?" Wren asked, slamming a fresh clip in the Better Devils.
"Those glowing ones. They explode," Beorn said.
Wren pushed her way through the others to see the sickening glowing green Thrall approaching, running at first, then walking slowly, bony arms wrapped tight around themselves. They shoved their way through the masses until Franz landed a headshot on one halfway up the ramp. It exploded, flinging globs of flesh and blood in all directions, blowing limbs from surrounding thrall. Wren suppressed the urge to vomit, taking aim with her hand canon and firing into the hoards.
Rorick squeezed through, kneeling before them with his auto rifle and mowing down the lines as they came.
"There are too many," he shouted. "Grab some supplies and run for the caves."
"Not a chance!" Sisre said, pulling Rorick back from the doorway. "Not without your Ghost. Get out of here. I got this."
He'd hesitated a moment but knew it couldn't be helped. He'd led the team to safety and that was what landed them where they currently were, blocked into a cave system on the other side of the canyon from the base. Old crates had been stacked in front of the entrance, but they could still hear the Thrall on the other side, pacing, scratching, screaming.
There was no backup. No comm system could reach outside of the caves. They would have to find their own way out. The cave itself had been marked clearly on Cayde's map, but not which tunnels led back out again. There was a chance that Cayde never got to explore them on his own, or that his scouts hadn't bothered to mark anything off. Who knew how long it'd taken for them to get through, or if they even tried?
"What's the plan," Franz asked, propping his elbows on his knees. "We can't stay here forever."
Rorick nodded, crossing his arms. "Sisre and I explored the left side tunnels, but we came on a room that just had too many splits. But I understand we can't stay here. The Thrall don't seem to be going anywhere. We have no choice but to look for an exit. We'll pair up and head into the tunnels. Mark where you've been, I don't care how, and get back here in twenty-four hours. We should have enough information to move forward after that."
Kiran turned to Wren. Splitting up would no doubt stick Wren with Flak all over again. She wasn't fond of the idea, but unless she told Rorick what Flak had said about her, she'd just have to deal with it.
"Flak, Wren," Rorick called and the Hunters looked to him. "Think you can get along for a day?"
"Yessir," Wren said without hesitation. Flak nodded.
"Good. Then get going. I expect a lot from a team of Hunters."
Wren packed up her things without a second glance at Flak, but she could feel eyes on her. Whether they were from him or the others, she couldn't be sure. Rorick kept with his orders, telling them to go toward the right-side tunnels. Wren headed off to the darkness of the tunnels, away from the dim light of the central cavern as the others packed up to leave. She checked the time as Kiran blinked over her shoulder, casting his light ahead.
"I don't like this," he said quietly, Flak's footsteps echoing behind them.
"It'll be fine."
Harsh white light from Kiran lit the narrow tunnels in a way that made her feel claustrophobic. That and having her helmet on for days was getting restrictive and it seemed she always had a tension between her shoulders, a need to run if for no other reason than to stretch her legs and prove her freedom.
Around every corner she thought she saw a shadow move but tried not to be too reactive. The strap over the Better Devils remained undone, incase she needed to draw quickly, and it was a small comfort, unlike Flak who remained quiet since they started out. He let her take lead, marking paths with chalk as they went. Twice they had to backtrack and when Wren checked the time, they'd been going for nearly ten hours.
The section of tunnels was only about four meters wide, too narrow for a proper camp but wider than some of the other sections. She dropped her pack on the ground and turned around, nearly smacking into Flak's chest. She jumped back but he stood stone still, the faceplate of his mask glaring down at her. It was impossible to see his face but the way he loomed over her made her uncomfortable.
"I think we should stop here and rest before heading back," she said, unsure if sleep would be an option with him around.
Flak took a step forward, then another, backing Wren up to the cave wall. He propped an arm over her head and Kiran blinked. Wren's heart pounded in her ears as Flak's free hand traced the curve of her side.
"Don't," she warned, swatting his hand away.
"I think I have it figured out," he replied, dismissing the rejection but continuing to loom over her, keeping her trapped. "The reason you're here. I know those Exo types can't do the deed like humans or Awoken… but they have needs. Cayde's still a man, in a sense. He has needs. So, how'd you do it, huh? How'd you entice him enough to get on his good side?"
"What? What are you talking about? I told you, there's nothing between Cayde and me," Wren said, darting under his arm but he grabbed her wrist and twisted it, snatching her back toward him.
"C'mon," he said, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close. "Show me."
"Get off," she demanded, slamming the butt of her hand cannon into the side of his helmet.
He paused for a split second, then punched her square in the chest, knocking her to the ground. Her head swam and she couldn't draw a deep breath. She coughed and sputtered as he stood over her.
"Enough!" Flak's Ghost cried, darting between his Guardian and Wren. Kiran joined him, the pair flashing, distressed, but unable to help.
"What a little ladder climbing who—"
"I said enough," his Ghost said again, cutting him off. His voice trembled but he stood his ground. Flak's fists clenched but after a moment he stepped back, muttering under his breath as he prepared a place to sleep.
Wren caught her breath and sat up, scooting into a wall, her back pressed against the slick rock. Her hands shook and her throat burned. The place on her chest where he'd hit hurt pulsed with every heartbeat. Flak lay down with his back to her and soon he was asleep.
Kiran floated in front of Wren's helmet, Flak's Ghost bright and alert by his Guardian.
"You need to tell Rorick what happened," Kiran said quietly, flickering toward Flak, as if the Hunter would wake at any noise.
Wren considered, then shook her head. "No. I've already had an incident with Flak. If I tell Rorick he might not believe me. He might think I made it up because of what happened before. I don't want to have to change fireteams just because of him."
"But Wren—'
"It's okay. If I don't let him get to me, he'll quit." Wren wasn't convinced at her own words and the way Kiran's components spun, he didn't either. At the end of the day, it was her call and she didn't want to risk it.
Sleep didn't come to Wren. She sat against the wall, staring at Flak until an alarm buzzed in her ear, making her jump. For nearly two hours she'd watched him for any sign of movement, any change in breathing and although she wasn't entirely sure what he wanted from her, she knew it wasn't anything good.
Flak's Ghost nudged his shoulder to wake him and by the time he rose Wren was on her feet, bag slung over her shoulder. Before he could pack his things, Wren started off down the tunnel in the direction they had come a few hours before.
Her legs felt heavy, eyes burned with the need for sleep, but fear pushed her forward. Then ten hours back to the group seemed to stretch on forever and by the time she saw the light from their main camp, she thought he legs might collapse beneath her.
"Hey!" Sisre called, jogging up to meet them with a scout rifle in hand. "Flak and Beorn found a tunnel system leading into a Hive base. It's our best chance out of here."
"Good, let's get on it," Wren said, realizing immediately how tired she sounded.
"Didn't you guys rest?" Sisre said.
"Yeah, sort of."
"Everything alright?"
Wren could hear Flak come up too close behind her and she shrugged. "Yeah. Guess I'm just not used to all this yet."
"Understood," Sisre chuckled. "I remember being dead tired my first couple of missions. But you'll get used to it in no time. Besides, you lazy Hunters are known for sneaking off for a nap."
Sisre nudged Wren's elbow a few times teasingly. Wren nudged her back and the pair headed off toward Rorick and the others. Flak fell back and Kiran shifted his light toward her. In the safety of the group, Wren was able to push the events of the trip to the back of her mind.
"C'mon," Franz said, leading the way, Rorick directly behind him. Beorn followed up the two and Wren fell in line between him and Sisre, guilty to put Sisre so close to Flak but feeling confident that the Hunter wouldn't try anything with her.
The group remained relatively quiet as they snaked through the labyrinth of tunnels, following the chalk marked path Beorn and Franz had found. Wren was exhausted but somehow it was tolerable as long as she was with them. Still her mind drifted to her new home at the Tower; to a hot shower and a warm robe. To a soft bed. But there was something else. Something she'd felt since she opened her eyes; the urge to run.
The only time she hadn't felt it was with a gun in her hand or a Sparrow between her knees. The night she'd spent in that soft bed in the Tower hadn't been as easy as the night in the base on the Moon before the Thrall attacked. She dismissed it as the Hunter's way.
They came upon the cavern suddenly and Wren stepped out into the expanse with a deep inhale. Strange torches had been forced into natural cervices, casting an eerie yellow glow on the barnacle like things that covered large patches of the cavern.
Wren grimaced at the barnacles that crunched under her boots, leaving them glistening damp with broken bits of barnacle stuck on. She averted her eyes, repulsed by what the Hive had caused.
Toward the right was a widely curving wall, mostly untouched, while to the left were massive carved stone pillars. The barnacles became denser in that area and as much as Wren hated it, she knew that was where they were headed; deeper into the Hive base.
From there Rorick took point, standing in the doorway before making the signal to move ahead. Wren assumed he remembered something about this area to feel so confident in his decision. How far in had he made it before he'd lost his Ghost? How did he even know Brix was still in one piece? Questions that likely would go unanswered.
They wound down steep, circular ramps and took them deeper and deeper into the Moon. Somewhere down below Wren could hear the rustling, scurrying sound of Thrall, unaware of their presence. The Ghosts had gone, leaving the Guardians to make their way in darkness. A screech sent chills down Wren's spine and he drew her weapon, ready for anything.
"We're close," Rorick said, moving to the right into a narrow passage covered on all sides by barnacles. Wren hesitated and Sisre nudged her back, making her move forward. She kept her elbows in, glancing around at the walls.
At the end of the hall were more stone pillars, much smaller than the first and erected at odd angles. A couple of chests sat against a far wall and from between them, a little light blinked then flew out like a flash, buzzing around Rorick's head.
Brix.
"Good, now let's get the hell out of here," Franz said, jerking his thumb toward the door.
"Not without the loot," Sisre said, popping open a chest. Wren was at her side immediately, drawn by curiosity.
The chests had an odd assortment of odds and ends; weapons, armor, glimmer, cloaks, marks, shards of an unknown material, bits of bone, skulls, and shredded material. No doubt both chests were some sort of hoard they'd collected from dead Guardians.
Sisre pulled a black cloak from the top and handed it to Wren who unfolded the black and white cloak to reveal a red bird across the back and a red band leading down to the frayed hem. Whomever it belonged to before had worn it for a long time. The white material had flecks of blood and small tears, burn marks, and gunshot residue. And yet it appealed to Wren. It was as if she could feel the presence of the Hunter who wore it before. She pulled off her half cloak and shoved it in her bag, attaching the longer one in its place while the other rummaged through what remained in the chests.
Most of the stuff was useless, mangled in whatever fight left the Guardians without their belongings and quite possibly, without their lives. A dead Ghost lay crushed at the bottom and Rorick held the pieces gingerly in his large hand. It could have just as easily been Brix. Wren couldn't help but wonder if he was thinking the same.
He tucked the Ghost away when Sisre handed him a pouch of glimmer. Beorn and Franz grabbed as much ammo as they could carry, distributed the rest. Wren put a fresh clip in her pouch, and they were ready to go.
Rorick headed out, the others falling into line behind him. Brix hovered over his shoulder for a time, speaking with him, but Wren was too far back to hear what the Ghost had to say. Before they got back to the larger cavern they'd come in at, Brix flickered and disappeared. Wren didn't know much about being a Guardian yet, but she did understand the importance of her Ghost. It was something that had been understood since she opened her eyes and keeping Kiran safe was priority. She hadn't been with him long, but she couldn't imagine being without him for even a day, let alone how long it had been since Rorick and Brix had been apart.
"Keep moving," Rorick said as the tunnel became so narrow, they had to turn sideways to walk.
Claustrophobia crept up on Wren, fear snaking up her neck and across her shoulders. The scream of a Thrall was all too close, echoing through the stone passage but she couldn't tell from which direction.
"We're almost there. Get ready for a fight," Rorick said.
Wren gripped the Better Devils, holding it up and close to her chest as she squeezed through the last section of tunnel. She could see the white of the Moon's surface reflecting light into the mouth of the cave and she felt the urge to push the others out of the way.
Gunfire started the instant they were free of the cave. Bright blue energy rounds hit the sides of the entrance, splattering on impact. Wren's vision lit up with blue when she stepped outside, and she clenched her teeth when the splash burned into less armored parts of her body.
They charged up the hill, Sisre boosting ahead to help Rorick with the first line. Flak caught up to Wren, his auto rifle blazing through Thrall. Rounds from Wren's hand cannon echoed from the canyon walls, rounds ripping through Thrall. Great chunks of flesh and bone fell away as Thrall fell dead on the cold surface of the Moon.
"Someone get that Knight!" Beorn yelled from the back of the group.
Wren turned around and Franz was struck in the back by an Arc round. He yelled and fell face first to the ground. Thrall swarmed his body and Beorn fired into them with a scout rifle. Wren went back for them, half running, half sliding, down the steep hill, firing the Better Devils into the Thrall.
Arc rounds crashed around them, splashes of energy singeing them all over. Wren took aim and fired, the Knight's head jerking back violently as the bullet struck between its eyes. The creature stumbled back, and she fired again, knocking it to the ground. Wren helped Beorn get Franz on his feet and the three of them hurried toward the others who stood their ground up top and fired down at the Thrall that chased them.
Wren's feet slid under the extra weight, but she kept pushing, her feet like lead. Rorick met them half-way and put Franz across his shoulders to carry him the rest of the way. The back of Franz's armor was burned away in a hole the size of Wren's helmet. The skin underneath bubbled with blisters and Wren had to look away.
Adrenaline pushed her up the hill, the pounding in her ears nearly covering the sounds of Rorick calling for help. They retreated through the narrow canyon, then out into the open where they cleared the Thrall that had followed them into the clearing.
They summoned their Sparrows, keeping an eye out for any more Hive who wanted to try their luck with the group of Guardians.
"Wren, I need Franz to ride with you," Rorick said, putting the injured Warlock on the Sparrow behind Wren. "Sparrows aren't really made to carry two, but I think you're small enough it should be alright."
Franz groaned in pain, but he was alert enough to put his arms around Wren's waist. He slumped against her, unable to hold himself up. Wren didn't hesitate to agree and they sped off toward their ships and hopefully, toward home.